Mummy found abandoned in Peru’s capital

Lima, Sep 21 (IANS/EFE) A mummy, apparently of a young woman, was abandoned on a Lima street along with ancient ceramic artifacts, a forensic expert told Peruvian media.

The mummified remains of a woman around 20, according to the opinion of medical examiners, were found by a security guard Sunday night on a street in the La Victoria district, RPP radio said on its web site.

The mummy, which was in a fetal position, with its legs bent up against its chest, was found on a pile of trash with some ceramic containers - and moulds to manufacture them.

The person who found the mummy and the other items called the police and the officers got in touch with the prosecutor’s office to proceed with the removal of the mummy.

After making a preliminary review, medical examiners told RPP and other local media that it was the complete skeleton of a young woman, but they said that additional tests will be needed to confirm the age of the remains.

In Lima, there are numerous archaeological sites linked to the cultures that flourished before the Inca empire and those sites attract traffickers in cultural heritage items, who steal assorted artifacts and sell them illegally to collectors.